THE TGO CHALLENGE 2014.....DAY 1 (Guinness and Glens)

Day 1 Mallaig to Sourlies 11 miles

The day I had been looking forward to for months finally dawned, no wind and a very light drizzle, ideal walking weather. Again this morning the wonderful dulcet tones of a cuckoo could be heard echoing from the nearby woods. A wee bit apprehensive for the last couple of weeks if truth be told, but a fantastic last breakfast in the Springbank B&B (great find) set me up just fine for the day ahead  and I was champing at the bit to get going. 

Day 1 - Mallaig to Sourlies 11 miles

 On board the MV Western Isles nearly ready for the transatlantic crossing of loch Nevis to Inverie, the highly recommended Springbank B&B is the wee white building, just to the right of the big off white/cream building

 And we're off, this walking lark is easy, i might try the wine from water thing later

 Turning into a lovely day

 Inverie

The real reason for starting here, the thought of pitching nearby and spending 13 days in the forge did cross my mind

Like a Saturday night in the cells, bergans lined up outside the doors rather than shoes.

West Coast feet, the last time they were dry for a while.

My west coast stone, carried lovingly the whole way to the east coast (100g for the records)

After the highly enjoyable pint in the sun, I thought it best to get a move on and drag my fat arse up yonder hills and over to Sourlies for the first nights pitch. 

The rough outline for the day was going to consist of a long hill to start with, a short steep decent, and a right bastard of a swamp before bed

Pretty benign looking start as the LR track ends and the path into Glen Meadall starts

 The first of many river crossings of the trip

 Last view back to Inverie after the three mile wander up to the bealach at 550m, rather cheeky for a fat lads first day with 14/15 odd kg on his back.

 The bealach at the top of the first climb, going down.

 A decent from hell for me as I took a couple of tumbles and back jarring slips on the way down, I really should have hurt myself but got away with it thankfully,  it was at this point I first realised I had made a pretty daft error in my choice of footwear, I went for old ultra comfortable faithfuls on their last legs, rather than sensible ones with decent soles. After the first two days I was seriously wishing I'd worn my trail shoes, not just for the grip but the Knoydart trails doubled as wee burns and my boots were soaking within hours, live and learn I suppose. 

 The swamp from hell on the other side, looks pretty benign until your in it, nearly lost a boot, did loose the bottom 2 sections of a Lekki pole, loads of fun recovering them.......

Interesting movements with a heavy bergan on, it all goes a bit "disco" leg when you get about 5 steps out.

       just to compound my slightly grumpy mood and already sore feet, the tide was in, so an         additional climb up over the headland to Sourlies was required before I could get an                                              eagerly awaited steak on for supper.

 Sourlies bothy, as expected quite few challengers pitched up here, initially when planning my route I had debated/hoped for the possibility of maybe going a bit further, as I'd only come about 10 miles from Inverie, but on arriving it was very apparent that it was more than enough for me, I was puggled. Day 1 supper was quite extravagant, steak and flat-bread, tomato soup with tabasco and a macaroon bar, lighter bag tomorrow...... 


I was probably asleep by 2000hrs.

The first of many stunning pitches.

 First days impressions

 Knoydart is absolutely stunning. Challengers are dead friendly and hills are bigger and more of an obstacle in real life than they look on a map. Plenty of cuckoos around

CLICK FOR DAY 2